• Sustainable initiatives in dental practice can have ecological and economic benefits. 

• Customers are taking an increasing interest in the sustainability of their dental treatments.

• Sustainable dentistry practices can boost your social media reach.

Environmental awareness and sustainable business practices have become a priority for brands and consumers across the globe over the past decade, but most people typically associate those initiatives with commercial brands instead of their local dentist's practice.

Dentists everywhere, however, should start turning their attention to more sustainable dentistry practices. Sustainability can offer several benefits for those who are forward-thinking enough to include it in their operational practices.

It’s better for the planet

Sustainable business practices are inherently better for the environment and the planet as a whole. That’s the biggest focus for why sustainability and environmentally-friendly options are becoming so important— especially since pollution, climate change, and an overwhelming amount of plastic waste are at a near-crisis level.

• Opting for reusable or compostable items where possible, which reduces overall the amount of waste going into landfills. You may choose to offer compostable paper cups instead of plastic ones, for example. Approximately 25% of medical waste that comes from healthcare organizations is plastic, so this can make a huge impact on reducing unnecessary waste.
• Choosing products that are manufactured in an environmentally-friendly way, so that less pollution and waste is created during production.
• Choosing biodegradable options that will break down or can be composted, or suggesting them for your patients. This might include giving out toothbrushes with handles made of bamboo instead of plastic, or suggesting Grin floss picks, which are made of cornstarch instead of plastic.
• Selecting products that are made to prevent further damage to the environment, like environmentally-friendly cleaning products that won’t damage the environment as they work their way into water systems.
  According to the United States EPA, certain ingredients in some cleaning products can be toxic when they seep into the water system, impact our own health, or even impact indoor air quality and contribute to smog. Opting for EPA-approved, environmentally-friendly cleaners can prevent all of these issues.
• Following proper dental waste management procedures, which can prevent dangerous chemicals like mercury from polluting the environment. The United Nationals Environmental Programme (UNEP) reported that the dental industry uses around 340 tons of mercury in dental amalgams each year, and it’s estimated that 100 tons of dental mercury enters the waste stream annually. 

If we all want to keep the world a happier, healthier place— and of course we do— this is the most significant reason why you should consider incorporating as many sustainable practices as possible. 

It can actually be more cost-effective 

In some cases, sustainable dentistry practices may also be the most cost-efficient, especially long-term.

• Eliminate disposable utensils, cups and dishes in the kitchen or break room area.
• Choosing toilet paper or paper towels made from bamboo or recycled paper that are wrapped in paper products instead of plastic (which can be cheaper when buying in bulk).
• Going paperless and opting for an end-to-end digital system for record keeping, appointments, billing and bookkeeping. As an important note: Never reuse single-use dental supplies, even after sterilization. Look for tools that are meant to be reused, and check their reviews extensively.

Millennials & Gen Z consumers look for sustainable providers

It's a well-documented fact that almost 55% of consumers will spend more with companies and brands who are eco-friendly (or at least “eco-conscious”). For younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z, this is true for up to 65%.

A commitment to sustainability in your dental practice can become a major differentiator and selling point for your office. Actively focusing on drawing a younger patient group is an opportunity to build long-term patient relationships.

It may help your reach on social media marketing

And speaking of long-term relationships: social media is not only a way to communication with a younger generation of patients, but they can also support expanding your digital and social media.

Any dental practice can easily boost their reach build actively engaged online communities by creating content such as:

• Reels and TikToks on why sustainable practices are important, specifically in dentistry.
• Sharing some of your favorite sustainable products, events and soliciting support for worthy causes.
• Partnering up with sustainable products and brands for promoted content to expand your reach and boost your credibility. 

Make sure that you use terms like “sustainable dentistry,” “eco-friendly,” “green,” and “environmentally focused” in your post captions, descriptions, and hashtags. This will help you be discovered by users who are looking for content similar to yours.

Final thoughts

As time goes on, it’s inevitable that the dental sector, like the rest of world’s industry and economy, will be expected to comply to a high level of sustainability awareness and be committed to run their businesses in an environmentally responsible manner. Getting ahead of this curve today will attract more customers tomorrow and reap business rewards in the future.

So, make sure it's included on your website, your Google My Business profile, and a key part of your social media marketing.

Want to learn more about how to connect with your target audience? Read on!

• How sustainable is your dental practice? (straumann.com)
• Oral Health Survey: complete our survey and lower the planet's carbon footprint 
• Instagram for Dentists: Everything You Need to Know 
• The Generation Gap: Reaching Everyone from Baby Boomers to Gen Z on Social Media
• How to Use Instagram Live to Grow Your Dental Practice